Although more than half a century has passed since the war ended, yet memories of those years still live on in the minds of many veterans. As time goes by, the number of firsthand witnesses is declining, creating an urgent need to preserve these stories.
In light of this, the VTV10 team produced the report Keepsakes of Victory Day on the occasion of the April 30 anniversary of the Liberation of the South and national reunification. The goal is to capture memories through the people and objects that have endured. The production team patiently searched for fragments of the past hidden beneath the layers of time.
The production team discusses the report plan (Screenshot)
Journalist Mac Kinh Huy from VTV10 shared: “We made this report from the heart. It is not just a television product, we want to preserve the legacy of historical witnesses. With each passing day, time becomes more limited, and the opportunity to meet these people diminishes. That is why we put all our effort into doing this work as carefully as possible”.
During production, the team spent a considerable amount of time locating and connecting with witnesses. Access was not easy, as most of them are elderly and in poor health. Each meeting required careful preparation, from initial contact and information verification to developing the interview content.
One of the filming locations (Screenshot)
Filming took place at the Plum Garden base in Long Tuyen Ward, Can Tho City, a site that still preserves many wartime artifacts and materials. Here, witnesses shared stories associated with specific objects.
Items such as a radio, a diary, or an old lamp are not only material objects but also hold historical information and personal memories. According to the witnesses, these were essential belongings during wartime and have been preserved as an inseparable part of their past for decades.
Witnesses recount stories of the nation’s heroic struggle to younger generations (Screenshot)
The filming process also presented challenges. Recalling memories required patience and sensitivity, as many of the stories were tied to challenging experiences. At the same time, accuracy remained a top priority. Every detail in the report was verified and cross-checked to ensure historical authenticity.
According to the production team, the report aims not only to recreate the past but also to help audiences, especially younger generations, better understand the value of peace today.
Filming wartime keepsakes of veterans in Can Tho (Screenshot)
Through the images and stories captured, the program hopes to preserve memories that are still alive today before they gradually fade with time.
